BMTN Info

Orchestras, musicians mull deep cuts

It’s been widely reported that the Twin Cities’ two orchestras both face a grim financial situation. Now more details are emerging, with a few eye-popping numbers.

The management of the Minnesota Orchestra on Wednesday said musician salaries would have to be deeply cut, MPR reports. Management proposes that the average musician’s $135,000 salary would be slashed by $40,000, MPR says.

Meanwhile, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, with an annual budget of about $11 million, will have a deficit of up to $1 million for the fiscal year that ended in June, according to a letter sent by board chairman Dobson West to patrons on Tuesday, the Star Tribune reports. Larger deficits loom in future years if no corrective action is taken, West said.